{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1608945,
        "msgid": "hajj-quota-corruption-scandal-exposed-former-religious-affairs-minister-yaqut-receives-bribes-1773327295",
        "date": "2026-03-12 20:36:00",
        "title": "Hajj Quota Corruption Scandal Exposed: Former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Receives Bribes",
        "author": "Gana Buana",
        "source": "MEDIA_INDONESIA",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Legal",
        "summary": "Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has arrested former Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas on charges of corruption involving the manipulation and distribution of hajj quotas. The investigation reveals a systematic scheme using the code \"T0\" to expedite pilgrims' departures without proper queuing procedures in exchange for bribes of USD 5,000 per quota, with the scandal involving the misallocation of 20,000 additional quotas provided by Saudi Arabia and causing an estimated state loss of Rp622 billion.",
        "content": "<p>The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) formally detained former\nMinister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas on Thursday, 12 March\n2026, in connection with alleged corruption involving the organisation\nand distribution of hajj quotas at the Religious Affairs Ministry\n(Kemenag).<\/p>\n<p>KPK Deputy for Prosecution and Execution Asep Guntur Rahayu stated\nthat investigations revealed illicit flows of acceleration fees to\nYaqut, Special Staff member Ishfah Abidal Aziz (known as Gus Alex), and\nother ministry officials.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBased on the KPK investigation team\u2019s findings, Rizky Fisa Abadi\nprovided acceleration fees to YCQ, IAA, and several officials at the\nReligious Affairs Ministry,\u201d said Asep Guntur at KPK\u2019s Red and White\nBuilding headquarters in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n<p>In executing the scheme, Rizky Fisa Abadi, serving as Head of\nSub-section for Licensing, Accreditation, and Special Hajj Organisation\nat Kemenag, allegedly operated under Gus Alex\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n<p>They employed the code \u201cT0\u201d to facilitate the departure of certain\npilgrims instantly, bypassing legitimate queuing procedures. Rizky\ndetermined quotas for 54 Special Hajj Organisers (PIHK) to enable them\nto send pilgrims directly. The KPK discovered that perpetrators charged\nUSD 5,000 or approximately Rp84.4 million per hajj quota.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne method involved converting regular hajj pilgrims to visa\nmujamalah, redirecting them to special hajj,\u201d Asep added.<\/p>\n<p>The scandal emerged following discovery of irregularities in the\ndistribution of 20,000 additional quotas provided by the Saudi Arabian\nGovernment. According to regulations, these quotas should have been\ndistributed with 92 per cent allocated to regular hajj and 8 per cent to\nspecial hajj. However, the Religious Affairs Ministry instead divided\nthe quotas equally, 50 per cent each. This manipulation is strongly\nsuspected to have been deliberately executed to create opportunities for\nhajj quota commercialisation.<\/p>\n<p>Yaqut Cholil Qoumas is currently in the first 20-day detention period\nfor investigative purposes. The KPK affirmed it would continue\ninvestigating other parties\u2019 involvement, having already examined\nwitnesses from travel agencies and religious figures to complete case\nfiles before referral to trial.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/hajj-quota-corruption-scandal-exposed-former-religious-affairs-minister-yaqut-receives-bribes-1773327295",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}